By Goddy Anyogo

With the unending gale of awards and recognitions for his sterling performance, managerial expertise, and administrative excellence continue unabated, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Zana Akpagu he has yet added another feather to his hat already swarming with plaudits.

This time, it was the Nigerian Medical Association, Cross River State Branch (NMA-CRS) that conferred on him its prestigious Excellent Achievement Award, amidst an avalanche of eulogies, for his stellar contribution to the development of Health Education and Care.

Speaking during a ceremony in the Vice Chancellor’s office, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) chairman of this year’s annual general meeting (AGM)/Dinner/Award Night, Dr. Elemi Ani said Prof. Akpagu was being honoured for, amongst other things, expanding the curricular base of the College of Medical Sciences of the University and ensuring that in terms of facilities and service delivery, the College was high up there in the comity of Medical Colleges with a tangible competitive advantage.

Lending his voice to the discourse, the Provost of the College, Prof. Maurice Asuquo noted that beside the university providing a large chunk of the NMA membership, Prof. Akpagu within his first two years in office was able to increase the number of faculties in the College from three to five with the addition of faculties of Dentistry and Pharmacy.

According to the provost, “this is the first time in the country a faculty of Dentistry would be able to graduate her first batch of students without losing one or two years due to lack of or inadequate facilities.”

He commended the Vice Chancellor for his every effort in ensuring that the College is ever evolving in line with contemporary needs, as well as, building human capacity through sponsorship to workshop, seminars and conferences.

Receiving the award, the unical Vice Chancellor, Prof. Zana Akpagu thanked the NMA for the award describing it as important to him and an honour he will continue to cherish.

Prof. Akpagu while apologizing for his unavoidable absence at the NMA events, use the opportunity to thank God for the privilege to do his bit, adding that, all he ever tries to do was in an effort to do his job to the best of his ability even as he expressed his hope that his successors will build on whatever has been achieved.

Describing, once again, the College as the flagship of the university, the ebullient varsity administrator, who is a recipient of countless distinguish award reiterated his desire to also oversee the establishment of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences before bowing out of office.